Design

Tuesday, 20 December 2016

Nothing like a foot of snow to get me in the Christmas spirit. Usually I have my tree up by the first week of December but I just couldn't do it this year. And then we had a snow storm, & I was ready...just like that.

So here's my little home tour...simplicity is my game! This year I've embraced black in my Christmas decor (actually all over my house)...including black wreaths! Although I'm not a green fan, I absolutely love the forest green & black combo. Enjoy the tour!

And here's the cutest little tree in the world! I loved this tree just on its own without any decor but decided to decorate it with white lights, burlap garland (Dollarama) & pompoms (Michaels) . Keeping with my kitchen & that modern farmhouse style...a little different from last year's decor.

Like I said, simplicity! I took some very small wreaths & wrapped them in black scarves (all from the Dollarama). I also used a lot of pinecones & placed them in urns & candle holders that I already had.

Just want to thank you all for following me & supporting me in this blogging journey. A couple of weeks ago a few Canadian bloggers got together for a parade of Christmas home tours. If you want to check it out it starts here.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with your family & loved ones!

Sunday, 11 December 2016

In an effort to make my Newmarket builder box home look a little more like New York , I decided it would be a good idea a few weeks before Christmas...what was I thinking?... to sponge paint my front hall.

I absolutely love brick walls...every time I'm out and see one I take a pic because I just love that industrial look...I thought about doing the faux brick wall panels, the peel and stick wallpaper, or using plaster and tape. However, if I decided I didn't like it or got tired of it in three months (which happens a lot around here), then I would wreck my walls and be stuck with it. So I decided to buy a sponge and bought one that was for the end of a mop, like this one, which co-incidentally happened to be the exact size of the brick on my house. Then I left the dark grey on the walls (Metropolis by Ben Moore) and used some paint left over from another project and just went for it.

So here's what I did:

1. dampen sponge slightly.

2. put a light coat of paint on the sponge with brush.

3. start in far lower corner and work up the first four or five rows.

4. place sponge on the area and move back and forth slightly (lightly wetting the sponge helps with moving it).

5. try to keep each brick above the other in alternate rows as you move up.

6. once you do a few rows moving up, then move horizontally across the wall keeping them straight as you go.

7. when all the bricks are on the wall, then put a little bit of paint on the sponge and dab it in between the bricks.

Bricks are very forgiving...they aren't perfect. Don't be afraid if you screw up. You can go back over it and make it darker. Just remember to keep your bricks straight. If the bricks start to become uneven, you can always lengthen or widen a brick...again, bricks are imperfect. I also did this over a few days, an hour or two at a time.

So now my challenge is finding the right mirror and lighting...I shopped my home for lighting and like this one (above) from Homesense, but I'm not sure about the mirror.... (I know, I'm missing a drawer pull.)

And then I decided to paint my doors a beautiful black called Vulcanite by Ralph Lauren. This is the colour I'm going to be using on my lower cabinets for the kitchen (I know it's been a very long time coming but they are finally being painted in January...patience, people). So it was an opportunity to test it and make sure I like it and I do, I really really do. ...I've wanted to do this for years too.

Oh, and we got the most ADORABLE Christmas tree ever...and to bypass the annual hours and hours of the Christmas tree falling over, I just stuck it in a basket...It might turn brown but it won't fall over!

Isn't she the cutest little tree? Axel has been circling it like a shark...which is why it's now up high and in a basket.

Monday, 14 November 2016

On one of our recent trips to Collingwood we stopped by the Tremont Cafe. Every once in awhile you enter a space and think "Wow, this is beautiful"...and Tremont is one of those places. It feels very French with a bit of an industrial farmhouse vibe. I loved the beamed blue ceilings, bricked walls and off white decor. Oh, and the food was pretty good too haha. (I was a little distracted.) FYI the Tremont building itself is home to many local artists, so it's good to go on a day when you have a bit of time to stroll the hallways and visit the studios.

Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Just thought you might enjoy seeing our friends' beautiful country home which has been just recently renovated in a modern farmhouse style...complete with barn door, church pew, subway tile, shiplap & wooden beams.

Monday, 26 September 2016

With temps getting quite a bit cooler at night, I've had to start bringing all my ferns & tropical plants inside. My garden didn't do that well this year as we had extreme heat for a long period of time. I totally forgot what green grass looked like! But at least the potted plants were very happy. It's always quite a challenge trying to keep the ferns alive over winter, but I love the look of them inside a home.

This little purple Aster was meant for outside but I loved it inside, so it stayed. Also, in case you're wondering about the kitchen, (confession) I still haven't painted the lower cabinets or bought handles (gasp). Finding the time (& energy) with 2 teens & a puppy... the thought of taking down the doors & painting is a little overwhelming...but it's on the list for this fall.

I'm sure this tropical plant won't last in the family room but it looks good. This room has had some changes over the summer...you may notice the hanging light & rug from here. Also, I did the quickest & cheapest slipcover ever...I used a dropcloth. I'll do a little post on it later.

Monday, 19 September 2016

Some of the older women rocked it for me last night at the Emmy Awards. Allison Janney looked amazing (maybe it's because her boyfriend is 20 yrs. younger than her)...everything about this look was on point. And how about Lily Tomlin...fun, classic & age appropriate...I thought she looked so sweet.

Here are some more dresses that stood out for me.

Lily Tomlin

Neve Campbell wearing Christian Siriano

Natalie Morales

Angela Bassett

Melora Hardin

Niecy Nash

Keltie Knight

Felicity Huffman wearing Tony Ward

I was on the fence about this one, worn by Emily Ratajkowski,...I loved the colour & construction. The bottom was amazing but the top for me was too structured & wasn't quite right...if the triangles on the top were removed, it would have complimented the bottom much better. But beautiful dress nonetheless.